Are all AR flash hiders removable?

[camoman33935]

Hey yall,

I was wondering if all or most AR-15 flash hiders are removable. I have a DPMS upper with a 16" barrel and the A2 birdcage flash hider on it. Also, do yall know if i take the flash hider off, will it put my barrel length under 16"?

Thanks

 

[Roadkill]

All mine are removable but its a pain to take them off. I replaced one and somehow didn't screw up the gun doing it.

 

[camoman33935]

Alright thanks bud...if you dont mind me askin howd u take yours off? do you have one of the AR tools?

 

[Frankl03]

I replaced the flash hider on my Stag AR with one from YHM. I used an adjustable wrench but I wrapped the flash hider with a piece of cloth so I wouldn't scratch it. It was easy.

 

[janobles14]

the ones on my 16" and 20" are removeable (i think). the one on my 11.5" is pinned or welded or something and i dont think its removeable without major surgery.

 

[Maverick223]

Not all are removable (threaded on), but the vast majority are (on ARs), as others have mentioned some are pinned and/or welded making removal difficult. This is typically performed to comply with barrel and/or OAL restrictions without the carbine becoming a SBR. If it is not threaded there is often a discoloration indicating that it was blind pinned and then refinished, or it may have a visible weld bead at the transition from flash suppressor to barrel. If it is difficult to remove it may have been secured with Loc-tite making it more difficult (using blue, which I recommend), or darn near impossible (using red, which requires high heat for removal) to take off. I would simply use a moderate amount of force to ensure that I didn't shear anything off (such as threads, a pin, or weld) and cause damage to the barrel and/or muzzle device.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

As long as the barrel is 16", and assuming there are no state or local laws restricting it further in some way, you should be able to remove it with ease.

 

[AR-15 Rep]

You can remove it and the barrel will still be 16" the hider doesn't count on a threaded barrel. If it is perm attatched it does count. Make sure when you get the new hider or brake to get a new crush washer, and make sure you index the brake or hider. remember you are twisting on a tube, so if you don't have the proper tools, common sense will go a long way.

 

[Quentin]

I have a DPMS upper with a 16" barrel and the A2 birdcage flash hider on it. Also, do yall know if i take the flash hider off, will it put my barrel length under 16"?

If it's a true 16" barrel then with the A2 FH your barrel should measure about 17.5" and you can remove the FH yet still be legal at slightly over 16". In that case the FH should be just screwed on as described above. If your barrel needs the FH to meet the legal 16" then the FH will be "permanently" mounted and hard to replace.

 

[RP88]

I wouldn't say "with ease", but non-pinned or non-welded ones are removed with a good wrench, frustration, cursing, and muscle.